AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 15, relative to telemarketing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-1526, is amended by adding the following language as a new subsection (c), and by designating subsequent subsections accordingly:

(c)(1) No telephonic sales calls shall be made by a telephone solicitor to a consumer from a telephone if the telephone number of the caller is unlisted or if the telephone solicitor is using telephone equipment which blocks the caller ID function on the telephone or telephone equipment of the number dialed so that the telephone number of the caller is not displayed on the telephone or telephone equipment which is technically capable of displaying the telephone number of the caller.

(2)(A) In addition to any other penalty provided by this section, it is an offense for a person owning or directing the use of telephones or telephone equipment in violation of subsection (c)(1) to use or intentionally employ or direct a telephone solicitor to use, or to contract for the use of, telephones or telephone equipment to make telephonic sales calls in violation of subdivision (1) of this act.

(B) A violation of this subdivision(2) is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable only by a fine not to exceed twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) for each violation.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1998, the public welfare requiring it.